Wick support means for non-spillable wick bottles



April 3, 1962 P. XENAKIS ETAL WICK SUPPORT MEANS FOR NON-SPILLABLE WICK BOTTLES Filed NOV. 26, 1958 7 a m 0 z Z M\\\\\\\\\\ k fi mg 8 m xw m M F am 8 m H Y B United States Patent This invention relates to improvements in wick bottles particularly for the dispensing of space deodorants, and

the like, wherein special wick engaging means provided in a bottle neck affords a substantial check against spillage or discharge of the liquid contents of a bottle when the bottle is tipped, or even inverted. More particularly, the invention relates to wick engaging means for wick bottles of the type described, whether incorporated as part of the bottle structure per se, or as an independent insert unit adapted for assemblage with a bottle neck.

One of the standard ways of dispensing space deodorant and air freshening compositions is by means of a so-called wick bottle wherein a suitable bottle, or container is provided with an adjustable extensible wick which, by capillary action, is maintained constantly moistened with the counteractant or air freshening composition which is introduced into the air by volatilization from the wick. One of the problems in the use of such wick bottles is the constant danger of loss of material and damage to surroundings if a bottle is tipped or knocked over while open for use. Attempts heretofore to overcome this problem by employing a wick closely engaging and substantially filling the bottle and have only led to additional problems, due to the fact that the lowering of such a wick to return it to the bottle between periods of use, causes the liquid to squeeze from the wick, overflowing onto the sides of the bottle.

It has now been found in accordance with the present invention that the problems above mentioned can be effectively overcome and wick bottles can be rendered essentially spill-proof by providing in association with a bottle neck, a wick engaging portion of restricted dimensions which engages the wick at a point substantially below the upper most portion of the assemblage. Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the invention may be defined as a non-spill wick support for Wick dispensers of volatilizable material comprising, in combination with a fluid container having a restricted opening therein, means forming an essentially tubular wick passage in alignment with said opening, said passage being of larger cross-sectional dimension than a wick passing therethrough, inwardly deflected means in a portion of said passage adjacent to the fluid container providing closely conforming engagement with said wick, whereby passage of fluid from said container is possible only through said wick, and the length of said tubular passage outwardly of the wick engaging portion thereof being greater than the diameter of said passage, thereby providing a reservoir to receive liquid which may be squeezed from said wick when moving the same from an operative extended position to a more retracted position.

The invention can be incorporated in wick bottles either by specially fashioning the neck portion of the bottle or container per se, or by providing a separate unit for assemblage with a bottle neck or opening which includes the novel wick engaging structure. The invention will readily be understood from a consideration of the following description taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain preferred adaptations of the invention are illustrated with the separate parts thereof identified by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a typical wick bottle incorporating the invention, and shown in a tipped position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with the wick in a retracted or inoperative position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but taken at rightangles thereto.

FIG. 4 is a partial section substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, indicating the elongated cross-section of the wick engaging portion.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but modified to show essentially a circular wick engaging portion.

FIG. 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2 with the wick omitted, and showing the wick engaging structure as incorporated in the container neck.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view substantially on the line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2 with the wick omitted, and showing a different manner of assemblage of the wick engaging unit into a container.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawing, a container 10 for liquid space deodorant or air freshening composition 11 is provided with a restricted, essentially tubular neck portion 12 having suitable means as indicated at 13, for detachably securing a screw cap, bayonet cap, or other similar closure thereto. The container is also provided with a wick 14 extending into the liquid 11, and adapted to protrude from the container 10, as seen at 14a in FIG. 1, or to be substantially withdrawn to inoperative position within the container, as seen at 14b in FIGS. 2 and 3. The wick 14 is suitably secured to a wire frame or other stiffening means 15, extending to a point inwardly of the container (note FIG. 1), and terminating in a projecting loop or finger piece 150, facilitating raising and lowering of the wick. The container neck 12 is provided with an essentially tubular insert 16 having a radial flange 17 overlying the lip or mouth of the container, and a protruding portion 18 spaced inwardly from the flange 17 at a distance to engage divergent walls at the inner extremity of the neck 12. The tubular insert 16 is fashioned from suitably resistant plastic material, so that the protruding portion 18 can be forcibly passed through the bottle neck to firmly position the insert therein with the flange 17 in close engagement with the outer extremity of the neck 12. If desired, a suitable adhesive can be applied to the under side of the flange 17 to establish a firm bond with the container neck 12; and when such adhesive is employed, it will be understood that the protruding portion 18 may be dispensed with.

The lower, or inner end of the insert 16 has inwardly extending portions 19, providing a restricted passage 20 of predetermined contour for close engagement with the wick 14. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawing, the passage 20 is of essentially elliptical contour for receiving a relatively flat wick, and suitably the inwardly extending portions 19 are separated by shallow cuts or grooves 21, permitting the flexure of the members 19 compensating for slight variations in the size of the wick.

FIG. 5 of the drawing is a relatively slight modification wherein the inwardly extending members 19a, separated by cuts or grooves 21a, provide an essentially circular passage 20a for receiving the wick 14 of generally round contour. It will be understood in this connection, that the particular contour of the wick is immaterial, but that the restricted opening 20, 20a should be shaped .to conform to and closely engage the particular wick to be employed in the assemblage.

It will be noted that the inwardly extending members 19, located substantially below the flange 17, and supporting the major portion of the wick in spaced relation to the inner surfaces of the tubular member 16 (note FIG. 2 of the drawing) provide a relatively large chamber, or reservoir 22 to catch and receive the liquid which 3 may be squeezed from the wick 14 in the downward movement thereof. The liquid thus collected in the reservoir 22 will quite rapidly feed downwardly through the wick 14 into the container 10, and the chances of overflow of liquid, even in rapid raising or lowering of the wick, are substantially eliminated. At the same time, when the bottle or container containing a substantial quantity of liquid 23 is tipped in a horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing with the wick extended or retracted, the engagement of the members 19 with the wick prevent the flow of liquid and spillage thereof from the container.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawing there is shown a modification corresponding generally with the construction as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, wherein the restricted passage 24 for receiving a wick, is formed by integral inwardly extending wall portions 25 of a container neck 26. The cross-sectional contour of the passage 24 can be varied to correspond with the cross-sectional contour of the particular wick to be accommodated. While in this construction the walls 25, forming the restricted passage 24 may not have the flexibility described in conjunction with the members 19, it will be understood that thewick materials are generally sufliciently compressible to permit liquid sealing engagement therewith by properly proportioning the restricted passage 24 in container-s fashioned from glass or other suitable material.

The construction as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawing corresponds generally with the construction as shown in FIG. 2, except that the essentially tubular wick engaging part 27 is arranged outwardly of the container 28 with only the inwardly extending members 29 being located below the lip or mouth 30 of the container. An outer radial flange 3 1 is provided where the inwardly extending members 29 join the body portion of the tubular member 27, permitting clamping and sealing engagement with the mouth 30 of the container by means of a screw cap 32, or the like having a large aperture 33 therein through which the member 27 can-pass.

The member 27 is suitably fashioned from flexible plastic material, and may have at the outer extremity thereof, a slightly beaded lip 34 for detachably mounting of a cover or lid member with the assemblage.

In each of the forms of construction is shown in the drawing, it will be evident that engagement ofa wick of predetermined contour, in a manner to be substantially spaced from the walls of an enveloping tubular part, and at a point substantially below the upper extremity of such tubular part, provides the dual purpose of preventing spillage of the liquid contents of a container if the same is tipped, while at the same time permitting capillary flow of liquid through the Wick to be evaporated therefrom in the conventionald'eodorizing or freshening of air. At the same time, the substantial reservoir provided by this structural arrangement prevents spillage or overflow of liquid due to the lowering movement of the wick, while permitting the liquid which may be squeezed from the wick and collected in the enveloping reservoir to feed by capillary action downwardly into the container part.

Various changes and modifications in the non-spill wick support for wick dispensers herein described will occur to those skilled in the art, and to the extent that such changes and modifications are embraced by the appended claims, it is to be understood that they constitute part of our invention.

We claim:

1. A non-spill wick support for containers comprising an essentially tubular member of plastic material having means on the outer surface thereof for positioningthe same with respect to a container opening, a plurality of inwardly extending. independently and flexibly movable members at one, inner, end portion of said member defining'a restricted pas-sage for closely and compressibly engaging a stiffened wick of predetermined cross-sectional contour, the cross-sectional area of said restricted passage beingsubstantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the remainder of said tubular member, and said tubular member being of'a length to provide around a wick extending therethrough a substantial reservoir for receiving liquid which may be squeezed from said wick as it is moved inwardly with respect to said tubular member.

2. A non-spill wick support as defined in claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprises radially offset means at the outer end of said tubular member.

3. A non-spill Wick support as defined in claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprises radially offset means at the inner end portion of said tubular member.

4. A non-spill wick support as defined in claim 1 wherein said positioning means comprises radially oflset means at the outer end-and at the inner end portion of said tubular member.

5. A non-spill wick support as defined in claim 1 wherein the said restricted passage is of essentially elongated cross-sectional contour providing closely conforming engagement with a fiat-wick.

6. A non-spill wick support as defined in claim l-wherein the said restricted passage is of essentially circular cross-sectional contour providing closely conforming engagement with a round wick.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,452,424 Bell Oct. 26, 1948 2,503,331 Gosheff Apr. 11, 1950 2,573,672 Reinhardt Oct. 30, 1951 2,616,759 Walsh Nov. 4, 1952 2,631,890 Fink Mar. 17, 1953 2,786,714 Saleny Mar. 26, 1957 2,807,901 Gilowitz Oct. 1, 1957 

